Ainsworth State Park

Columbia River Gorge


This campground near I-84 caters more to RVs – there's definitely highway noise – but there are six walk-in tent sites with a little more peace and quiet, and very easy access to hiking trails. Hiker-biker sites are a mere $5.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby Columbia River Gorge attractions

1. Beacon Rock State Park

2.61 MILES

Washington's Beacon Rock, the core of an ancient volcano, is a prominent state park about 7 miles west of the Bridge of the Gods. It offers hiking,…

2. Bonneville Fish Hatchery

5.16 MILES

Next door to Bonneville Dam, in pretty grounds with picnic tables, is this visitor-friendly facility. There are several ponds full of rainbow trout and…

3. Bonneville Dam

5.89 MILES

This dam was one of the largest New Deal projects of the Depression era. Completed in 1937, it was the first major dam on the Columbia River. Dam…

4. Eagle Creek Recreation Area

6.93 MILES

The beautiful, 13.2-mile Eagle Creek Trail was the gorge's most popular hike before the 2017 fire that has closed it indefinitely. There is no timeline on…

5. Cascade Locks Historical Museum

9.01 MILES

Housed in an old lockmaster's three-story residence (1905) across from the locks, this museum features Native American artifacts, a fish wheel and a…

6. Columbia Gorge Interpretive Center

9.57 MILES

Located just below Skamania Lodge, this museum weaves together the many threads that form the area's history – Native Americans, early explorers, pioneer…

7. Vista House

10.17 MILES

Crown Point, which marks the gorge's western edge, offers amazing panoramic views across the gorge. Here the 1916 Vista House observatory, an art nouveau…

8. Lost Lake

13.27 MILES

Take your own postcard photo of Mt Hood from Lost Lake, which frames the white peak rising from a deep-blue lake amid thick green forest. This inland side…